Jan. 22, 2008: Wranglers second half surge helps them beat Chaps

Published 6:00 pm, Monday, January 21, 2008

ODESSA - The Odessa College men's basketball team is making a habit out of knocking off some of the top contenders in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference at the OC Sports Center.

No. 4 Midland College became the latest victim on Monday as the Wranglers hit some big shots in the second half to come from behind for an 84-76 victory.

The Wranglers (18-2, 5-1 in WJCAC), who knocked off nationally-ranked South Plains College (67-65) earlier this month, trailed 62-44 with less than 15 minutes remaining. They also trailed the Chaparrals (19-2, 5-2) 44-37 at the half.

The win gives OC coach Dennis Helms his first against head coach Grant McCasland and his Chaparrals in three years of his second stint with the Wranglers.

"I thought the five guys down the stretch played with all the heart in the world," Helms said.

This was a frustrating game for Midland College, which had to play with half of their available players in foul trouble for most of the second half. That included Tyrone Appleton, who scored 21 of his game-high 28 points in the first half, as the sophomore all-American picked up his fourth foul with 10:08 remaining in the contest. Sophomore post Darris Santee (10 points) also battled foul trouble for most of the first half. MC was called for 12 more fouls than the Wranglers and shot 16 less free throws.

"It just took away our aggressiveness," said McCasland of his team's foul trouble. "The way we played looked like we were trying to hold on instead of playing with effort. It was hard for our guys to get a rhythm in the second half. I just wish we hadn't gotten so complacent, and that was my fault. I didn't do a good job of giving them a jump start when we kind of stalled a little bit."

The Wranglers began their comeback right after Helms called a timeout at the 13:14 mark when MC held the 18-point lead. OC responded with an 11-0 run to cut MC's lead to 62-55 at the same time Appleton was called for his fourth foul while trying to guard Jamel Guyton. Guyton finished with 21 points as he scored 16 in the final 20 minutes.

OC eventually tied the game at 71 on a running jumper by Guyton and then took the lead on the next possession when Guyton nailed a 3-pointer. And when Guyton wasn't doing the damage, Devon McLendon (25 points) was as he hit another 3-pointer to extend the lead to 77-71 with 1:50 remaining.

"They made some big shots and you have to give those guys credit," McCasland said. "McLendon came in the game and got it going early. I thought he was a big lift for them with his ability to create his own shot up top and he made some big 3s down the stretch."

McCasland said he was also disappointed that he didn't receive more balanced offensive production. Hill added 19 points and David Terrell 11 to go with Appleton and Santee's double figure nights, but only two other Chaps (Wally Dunn and Larry Wilkins) scored.

"I thought Ty scored a lot early, so I think everybody got complacent and waited for him to make a play rather than us moving the basketball and trying to make simple plays," McCasland said. "I didn't do a good job with this group tonight when we got that lead and figuring out a way to finish."

The Chaps also played without forwards Marlon Louzeiro and Marcus Washington. Louzeiro sat out with an injured shoulder, while Washington stayed in Midland to recover from the flu and a 103-degree temperature. Terrell started in place of Washington.